NOT being allowed to have the future of children’s centres looked at in closer detail was branded as being like something you’d see in a fascist state by a councillor yesterday.

Lib Dem councillor Julia Wassell wanted to ‘call in’ a decision over proposed changes to the running of five children’s centres in Bucks so they could be scrutinised in finer detail by members of Buckinghamshire County Councils.

The Sure Start centres, in East Wycombe, Chalfont St Giles, Bourne End, Wooburn Green and Marlow, are currently operated by the council but they are set to be taken over by children’s charity Barnardo’s.

Thousands of people signed petitions opposing the move, saying they had not been given enough proof of the benefits of the move and were confused why changes couldn't be implemented in 2014, when the current care contract runs out.

Cllr Wassell wanted to call in the decision so councillors could consider it in more detail – but was told she couldn’t as it had become a key decision that needed to be made before next week’s elections.

And she said at yesterday’s full council meeting: “It would be nice to be all united but the elections have been used to justify a decision being taken urgently, which I don’t agree with.

“You can envisage some kind of fascist state saying all the difficult decisions would be left until just before the election and it would be passed through as urgent because of the election.

“I’m not happy the decision I wanted to call in was turned into an urgent one because the election was impending.”